Intern

Fisheries Communication and Community Engagement Intern

The Fishermen's Alliance is the leading voice for commercial fishermen on Cape Cod, working with more than 120 independent fishing businesses, 300 local fishing families, and 1,200 concerned community members. Our work?on fisheries management, scientific projects and community education?impacts the local community and serves as a national model. We are a nationally recognized, nonprofit organization that works to develop and implement creative solutions that promote healthy oceans, strong fishing businesses and thriving coastal communities.

The Fishermen?s Alliance is seeking a college or graduate-level intern for summer 2026 to support a range of organizational activities. The intern will work alongside the Communications Officer to develop outreach materials and media content based on the latest Massachusetts Port Profile Project, and work alongside Policy Director to engage on state and federal fisheries issues. Event support will be another component, including assisting with the summer Meet the Fleet event which brings together local chefs, fishermen and our community for an informative presentation and seafood tasting. Additionally, the intern will organize one Small Boats. Big Science. event to connect the community, researchers, and commercial fishermen around the latest scientific advancements and their relevance to the fleet, environment, and coastal communities.

The intern will work directly with Communications Officer and Community Journalist, Doreen Leggett, and Policy Director, Aubrey Church.

Intern Responsibilities

Communications and Outreach:

• Develop outreach materials, including infographics, highlighting fishing ports, key statistics, and community needs for town officials and select boards
• Assist the Communications officer with outreach to Cape Cod towns regarding the latest MA Port Profile Project
• Craft public and media facing materials that reflect the goals and mission of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen?s Alliance
• Support development of media content and narratives that highlight the commercial fishing industry and members
• Assist Development and Communications staff with public-facing materials as needed
  
  

Multimedia Storytelling

• Produce short videos (~2 min) showcasing Cape Cod ports, their role in the blue economy, and community needs based on the Port Profile Project
  
  

Policy Engagement

• Engage and educate state and federal congressional delegations on fisheries issues
  
  

Event Organizing

• Recruit scientists to participate in the Small Boats. Big Science speaker series
• Organize communications and outreach for the Small Boat. Big Science event
  
  

Field and Science Support

• Collect Atlantic mackerel from local fishing docks and coordinate packing and shipment to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
  
  

The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently, possess excellent communication skills, be ambitious, and interested in a career in science communication, fisheries management, policy, or science.

Requirements

• Strong desire to pursue a career in Fisheries Policy and Science Communication
• Quick learner who is tech savvy
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to self-motivate and stay on task
• Available to work 200 hours over the summer, including some early mornings, evenings and weekends. This is usually 20 hours for ten weeks sometime between June 1st and August 7th, but exact dates and hours negotiable to match school schedule.
• Available to work at annual fundraising event held on August 1, our biggest fundraiser of the year
• Enrolled in a program or a degree related to natural resource management, fisheries policy, science communication, or fisheries or ecosystem science.
  
  

Benefits

• Crucial work experience in the field of fisheries policy and community advocacy and science communication.
• A unique opportunity to integrate into a working fishing community and learn firsthand about a variety of commercial fishing gears and vessel types by heading offshore with Fishermen?s Alliance members. This includes the opportunity to go to sea on commercial fishing vessels to better understand how the industry operates.
• Additional skills for your resume to build your competitive edge in today?s job market.
• A busy, but FUN, summer with an endless amount of gratitude from one of the Cape?s foremost nonprofit organizations.
• Experience all aspects of working for an innovative, fast-paced nonprofit.
  
  

Compensation

• $22/hour. We encourage you to seek housing early on Cape Cod as it is difficult to find during the summer months.
• Candidates are encouraged to secure scholarship or grant funding if additional support is needed. Fishermen?s Alliance is committed to assisting candidates with this process, including letters of support for scholarship applications.
• Candidates are encouraged to seek course credits for this internship and Fishermen?s Alliance will work with your college/university to ensure credit requirements are met.
  
  

Application Process

To apply, please send resume, cover letter and two communication samples to ------------. Applications are due no later than April 22, 2026.

This internship is partially supported by the Nat Mason Memorial Internship Fund.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.